diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp
index 3d0f615618..5ec74c2b47 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ void BLECharacteristic::notify(bool require_ack) {
     ESP_LOGW(TAG, "require_ack=true is not yet supported (i.e. INDICATE is not yet supported)");
     // TODO: Handle when require_ack=true
   }
-  if (this->service_->get_server()->get_connected_client_count() == 0)
+  if (this->service_ == nullptr || this->service_->get_server() == nullptr ||
+      this->service_->get_server()->get_connected_client_count() == 0)
     return;
 
   for (auto &client : this->service_->get_server()->get_clients()) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h
index 4eb8673f74..03d6c5034e 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_characteristic.h
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class BLECharacteristic : public EventEmitter<BLECharacteristicEvt::VectorEvt, s
 
  protected:
   bool write_event_{false};
-  BLEService *service_;
+  BLEService *service_ = nullptr;
   ESPBTUUID uuid_;
   esp_gatt_char_prop_t properties_;
   uint16_t handle_{0xFFFF};
diff --git a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_service.h b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_service.h
index ac8db958a5..b0463816e4 100644
--- a/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_service.h
+++ b/esphome/components/esp32_ble_server/ble_service.h
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class BLEService {
   std::vector<BLECharacteristic *> characteristics_;
   BLECharacteristic *last_created_characteristic_{nullptr};
   uint32_t created_characteristic_count_{0};
-  BLEServer *server_;
+  BLEServer *server_ = nullptr;
   ESPBTUUID uuid_;
   uint16_t num_handles_;
   uint16_t handle_{0xFFFF};